Latest Metal Mike Chlasciak

The minor scale is the most commonly used scale in metal. This month, I’d like to detail the most prevalent minor scales in metal: natural minor (also known as the Aeolian mode), the Dorian mode, the Phrygian mode and the harmonic minor scale.

One of the essential elements of great metal is the execution of razor-sharp harmony lead guitar lines.

Many students have asked me how to go about constructing multilayered guitar harmonies and which notes will sound the best. To answer these questions for everyone, in this month’s column I’ll show you a simple and effective way to build a classic metal-style three-part harmonized guitar line.

For me, some of the best metal songs, like many of the classic tracks on Metallica’s Master of Puppets or Megadeth’s Rust in Peace, have these qualities. The majority of the riff is played in even eighth notes, and I stick with alternate (down-up) picking throughout.

I’d like to focus on riffs and rhythm ideas that represent what I think of as “the real deal” metal. I’ve designed these riffs to help you build up both your pick-and fret-hand technique in regard to executing pure metal ideas like these with power and precision.

This video is bonus content related to the May 2014 issue of Guitar World. For the full range of interviews, features, tabs and more, pick up the new issue on newsstands now or at the Guitar World Online Store.

In association with Music Masters Camps, shredder — and Guitar World columnist — “Metal” Mike Chlasciak will host his “Metal Heroes Summer Camp” August 25 to 29 at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, New York. Developed for young metal-heads in the ages 12 to 18, Metal Heroes Summer Camp is designed to teach, motivate and inspire young metal-heads through intense but fun instruction in heavy metal.

These videos are bonus content related to the April 2014 issue of Guitar World. For the full range of interviews, features, tabs and more, pick up the new issue on newsstands now or at our online store.

I often hear guitarists tell me they want to attend one of my workshops because they've reached a certain "plateau" they can't seem to get past. It sounds logical, right? Unfortunately, this is wrong.In guitar playing, there are no plateaus. We never arrive and stay at some flat, secure place. Not for long, and certainly not over a period of 24 hours.

These videos are bonus content related to the March 2014 issue of Guitar World. For the full range of interviews, features, tabs and more, pick up the new issue on newsstands now, or in our online store.

Today I’m going to talk about something that should really hit close to home for us creative people: inspiration — and how we, as humans, relate and perceive it. As musicians, we often wait for the golden gate to open, rays of inspiration to shine in and — presto — we bang out a great new song, lyric, etc.